Elford Numbum Races 3 & 4 - 15/01/2023

 

Elford numbum Races 3 & 4 – 15/01/2023

Bright and sunny with a few white clouds and a fresh breeze as we left for Piddinghoe Sunday morning. The weather forecast was for 24 to 26 knots of wind and on arrival at the Pond it was at least that, for a change.

The writer, having experienced the blow on the previous Sunday 08/01/2023 took his gear to the changing room  and almost immediately returned it to the car. As the racing shortly showed it was a wise decision for him.

The start of Race 3 was delayed whilst Nick Blackburn, Rear-Comm Piddinghoe and several helpers went to ‘salvage’ several boats floating near the south east corner of the pond. The safety boat was also called into action to assist in the recovery. The boats had been cast adrift by some vandals (unknown Characters, according to the NSSC web site message).

The RO, Laurence Venus, assisted by Darrel Topp and with Dave Murley and Connie Sturt in the safety boat, set a course similar to that from last week, albeit with the wind from the west this time, requiring the marks to be rounded in a different order – as below:-

                                            Photographs by Bett Simmons

At the delayed start it was Todd Grady-Gales (Laser full rig , Lancing SC) who was first away, from the shore end of the line, with Thomas Beck (Topper) passing astern of him as he tacked off on port. Third to start was Ed Thorburn (Finn). The next three were Michael Veale and Mike Rosier RS 200), Andy Beck (Laser 4.7) and Sean Beevers (Laser full rig) in that order. The last pair were Bill Wates and Alisdair Fortune (both in Laser Radials.

Todd was first to round the windward mark just off the clubhouse followed by Ed and then Thomas and they set off towards the mark off the east shore. Sean pulled ahead of Thomas as did Michael. 

By the end of the lap the order was Todd 1^st by 23 seconds from  Ed 2^nd,  Michael 3^rd , 54 seconds behind, Sean 4^th14 seconds further back, Bill 5^th, Andy 6^th, Alisdair 7^th and Thomas 8^th.

Lap 2 had Todd still leading Ed with Sean now ahead of Michael and Andy ahead of Bill. Who had taken his first dip. Alisdair led Thomas across the line.

Lap 3 Todd, in attempting to round the mark in the south east corner of the pond, managed to lassoe it as he was unable to bear off in a big gust. As a result Ed took over the lead.  Michael also managed to get ahead of Sean, by judicious use of his Gennaker. Bill went back in front of Andy and the position of the back pair remained unchanged as Thomas was finished.

Lap 4 saw Ed still holding the lead from Todd, by 45 seconds (down from 62 seconds in lap 3) there were no place changes in this lap and Bill, Andy and Alisdair were finished.

Lap 5 the final lap saw Ed cross the line 1^st some 49 seconds ahead of Todd with Michael 1 minute and 29 seconds astern. Sean was 4^th and last to cross the finish.

There were not too many capsizes recorded but Thomas did take one just after finishing and before he went ashore.

With handicaps applied and times corrected the result was Todd Grady-Gales 1^st, Ed Thorburn 2^nd, Andy Beck 3^rd, Sean Beevers 4^th and Bill Waites 5^th.

RESULTS:-

Race 3 - 15/01/2023

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull	LASER	209998	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1100		30.32	5	0.27.45	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		29.43	5	0.28.20	0.00.36	2.0
3	Laser Hull	LASER 4.7	no no	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		28.08	4	0.29.07	0.01.19	3.0
4	Laser Hull	LASER	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1100		32.51	5	0.29.52	0.02.19	4.0
5	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147		27.40	4	0.30.09	0.02.12	5.0
6	Menagerie	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		32.01	5	0.30.37	0.02.59	6.0
7	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	85185	NSSC	Alisdair Fortune		1147		30.42	4	0.33.27	0.05.14	7.0
8	Menagerie	TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		27.36	3	0.33.42	0.04.52	8.0
9	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1147		OOD				18.0
9	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	217834	NSSC	Darrell Topp		1147		OOD				18.0
9	Menagerie	TOPPER		NSSC	Connie Sturt		1365		OOD				18.0
9	Menagerie	HADRON H2	138	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1037		OOD				18.0

 

After a short break Race 4 was held over the same course – after the mark in the south east corner had been repositioned. Thomas did not take part having gotten very cold in the first race.

At the gun it was Sean who crossed the line 1^st with Ed second and Todd third both of whom tacked onto port immediately after crossing. Michael was 4^th to start with Andy next, ahead of Bill and Alisdair last to go.

At the windward mark off the clubhouse Ed was 1^st to round and set off towards the east shore hotly pursued by Todd with Sean astern and Michael close behind. Sean must have taken a dip – the teltale ‘black’ head to his sail – in the latter stages of the previous race. 

By the end of the lap, with everyone having endured/enjoyed some fast and furious reaches and very gust beats, Ed held the lead from Todd by 10 seconds with Michael 46 second astern. Andy was lying 4^th with Alisdair 5^th  Bill 6^th and Sean 7^th- the latter is thought to have had another dip.

Lap 2 had Todd cross the line ahead of Ed by 13 seconds and with Michael 3^rd, 88 second further back. Andy was lying 4^th with Alisdair still 5^th. Bill had at least another dip to lie6th with Sean 7^th still.

Lap 3 saw Todd still holding ed off and crossing the line 14 second ahead. Likewise Michael was in 3^rd place with Bill up to 4^th ahead of Andy. Alisdair, who had spent quite a while upside down and must have been exhausted retired before finishing this lap.

Lap 4 Ed managed to get ahead of Todd, he seems to have been able to sail closer to the wind on the beats, by 6 seconds at the finish line. Michael crossed 3^rd, well behind this pair, with Andy 4^th as Bill spent more time surveying the pond bottom. Sean had closed the gap but still finished 6^th and last. The last two were then finished.

Lap 5 The fight between Todd and Ed raged on with Todd crossing the line 9 seconds ahead. Michael was 3^rd to cross with Andy 4^th both of them finishing here.

Lap 6 was contested just by Todd and Ed with the latter taking line honours by 2 seconds.

With The results calculated the winner of the race was Todd Grady-Gales with Ed Thorburn 2^nd, Andy Beck 3^rd, Michael Veale 4^th and Bill Waites 5^th.

RESULTS:-

Race 4 - 15/01/2023

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull	LASER	209998	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1100		34.30	6	0.31.22	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		34.28	6	0.32.51	0.01.34	2.0
3	Laser Hull	LASER 4.7	no no	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		36.01	5	0.35.47	0.04.27	3.0
4	Menagerie	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		32.14	5	0.36.59	0.04.54	4.0
5	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147		35.15	4	0.46.06	0.11.16	5.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1100		36.45	4	0.50.07	0.13.45	6.0
7	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	85185	NSSC	Alisdair Fortune		1147		RET				18.0
7	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1147		OOD				18.0
7	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	217834	NSSC	Darrell Topp		1147		OOD				18.0
7	Menagerie	TOPPER		NSSC	Connie Sturt		1365		OOD				18.0
7	Menagerie	HADRON H2	138	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1037		OOD				18.0

 

It has to be said that these races were fast and furious, and hard work for all concerned and comments were later overheard that it had been very enjoyable. The long range (BBC) forecast is for a bit less breeze next Sunday. Hopefully the number of takers will be even greater.

Another  comment  that the writer feels is appropriate is that some three or four ‘wing sail foil boarders’ took to the water soon after the second race started.

Whilst they barely got in the way of the dinghy racers they did not appear to have been highly experienced – or in full control of their equipment – but in the strong winds they were an unnecessary hazard to those racing. It would have been polite, and safer for themselves, if they had waited 20 or 30 minutes until the racing finished.

Alan.S 1832